Afriforum to test Bloemhof water

North West / 29 May 2014, 6:05pm

SAPA

A resident fills her bucket with contaminated water from a tap in the township of Boitumelong in Bloemhof in North West on Thursday, 29 May 2014. North West health department spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said Bloemhof's water source had been contaminated.
"The municipality also stopped water distribution to the community as it was clear the water was the source of contamination and that the water circulating was not safe," he said.
He said water tankers had been sent to the area. Resident Kgomotso Moalusi said some people were not getting water from the tanks.
"The water tanks are selective. They give water to their own people. They started giving water to people late last night in five litre containers."
Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Johannesburg - Civil rights group AfriForum plans to conduct its own tests in Bloemhof, North West, after the town's water source had been contaminated.

“(The) tests, which will be analysed by an independent laboratory, will confirm the cause of the pollution,” said provincial co-ordinator Carmea Huysamen in a statement on Thursday.

“ (We) believe... (it) could have been caused by the spillage of raw sewage into the Vaal River.”

She said the contamination exposed problems with the quality of water in South Africa.

The results of the tests were expected by Tuesday, June 10.

North West health department spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane earlier confirmed that a baby had died on Wednesday after contracting severe diarrhoea from the contamination.

Over 200 people reported to local clinics with similar symptoms since Saturday. He said claims of a cholera outbreak had not been confirmed.

Water tankers had been deployed to the area, while schools had been closed since Monday.

Earlier in the day, Boitumelong residents queued to fill containers with contaminated water from what appeared to be the only working tap in the area in a yard.

They said they needed the water even though it was impure because they had been without water for a week.

There was also no water at the local police station and municipal offices.

By Thursday afternoon, water in the tankers was depleted and people resorted to taking water from swimming pools.

Municipal manager Andrew Makwapane said Bloemhof's water system had been cleaned and supply would be restored within the next few hours.